Cabs just build in the surge price all the time. In my area Uber is 1/3 of taxi cost normally, so even with a 2x surge, I still save money.
This person, claiming ignorance, is either a liar or just plain stupid.
How can you possibly know how to use Uber at all, and not know about one of the very basics of the system?!…

Obviously, that’s a prepaid phone. No carrier would look at his credit report and consider getting him on a contract.